Friday, June 23, 2017

'No fake rice, just fake news', rice traders say

NO FAKES: There is no fake rice, just fake news, rice retailers said in a press briefing on Friday.

"There is no such thing as fake rice, only fake news. There
is no actual fake rice discovered mula 2015 hanggang ngayon ," James
Magbanua, national president of the Grains Retailers Confederation of
the Philippines (GRECON), said in a press conference.

The National Food Authority backed the group's claim that no fake rice managed to enter the Philippine market.

"A total of 6 rice samples were subjected to analysis...the result of all samples are totoong rice, there is no fake rice," NFA administrator Jason Aquino said.

Magbanua said there is no incentive for rice producers and retailers to sell fake rice as "it is costlier to produce fake rice by putting plastic additives."

The group urged the public to be more discerning before believing articles they read online.

The group also called on lawmakers to pass measures that will penalize those who generate and share false and unverified information.

"It is time to consider a legislative measure against those who create fake news, especially news that affect our economy."On Thursday, a bill
that seeks to penalize any person or group who maliciously spreads
false news or information in traditional and online media platforms was
filed at the Senate.

Under Senate Bill 1492 any person proven guilty of creating
or distributing fake news will face a fine ranging from P100,000 to P5
million and 1 to 5 years of imprisonment.

Violators who have aided and encouraged fake news meanwhile
will be fined P50,000 to P3 million and imprisoned from 6 months to 3
years.

If the offender is a public official, he will be made to pay
twice the amount of fine and serve twice the period of imprisonment. He
will also be disqualified from holding any public office.